Building erection method

ABSTRACT

A method to be used in the erection or disassembling of buildings or quilding frames formed of individual panels. In the method a plurality of winch units are detachably secured to a roof or ceiling panel and are used to raise or lower individual wall panels to a uniform height after they have been raised to nonuniform heights as a result of raising them from a prepared package lying on a floor or foundation, or to raise or lower the vertical panels in an existing structure to nonuniform heights such that the vertical panels can be swung to horizontal positions, in a desired sequence to form a collapsible structure suitable for collapsible structure suitable for collapsing and packaging for removal to another site for erection again.

l United States Patent 1 1 3,600,870

1121 invent r il -n 2,852.93! 9/1958 Bonet 52/145 7 tho-Box 52l.05lsawa.0n lrh, Ilada 2.859.884 11/1958 Pearce 52/122x H pp 5 5,512,519 3/1968 Russell 52/285x 1221 Fil M416. 1910 I 3.494.092 2/1910 Johnson @1111... 52/145 DividonofSer.No.8ll,566,Ma1-.28,l969, 3.521.00 9/1910 Greenhalgh 52/149 1 Pat. No. 3.527 [45] Patented Aug.24. 1971 [54] BUILDING ERECTION METHOD Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney-Lawrence l. Field ABSTRACT: A method to be used in the erection or disassembling of buildings or quilding frames formed of individual panels. In the method a plurality of winch units are detachably secured to a roof or ceiling panel and are used to raise or lower individual wall panels to a uniform height after they have been raised to nonuniform heights as a result of raising them from a prepared package lying on a floor or foundation, or to raise or lower the vertical panels in an existing structure to nonuniform heights such that the vertical panels can be swung to horizontal positions, in a desired sequence to form a collapsible structure suitable for collapsible structure suitable for collapsing and packaging for removal to another site for erection again.

I PATENTEUAHB24197| 3,600,870

SHEET 1 0F 3 FIG. I.

INVENTOR William Greenhalgh ATTORNEY PATENIEU M824 um T53 6 O0 8 7 0 sum 3 OF 3 FIG. 7.

I. FIG. 9.

INVENTOR William Greenhalgh ATTORNEY No. 811,566 filed Mar. 28, 1969 now US. Pat. No.'3,527,008.

This invention relates to means to mechanically assist in a practical and efficient manner in the erection of buildings or other structures from prepared packages in which the building panels are disposed in stacked horizontal array. The array may include wall panels and a roof or ceiling panel, and a floor panel, base or foundation.

' More particularly, it relates to means which pennit the erection of a room from a package of prefabricated panels vor the dismantling of a previously erected structure in a simple, inexpensive and practical manner.

One object of the invention is to provide a means for erecting buildings from one or more packages in which the walls, ceiling and floor panels necessary to form a room or a portion of a room, or more than one room of a building, assembled in a compact flat package, are shipped to or fabricated at a building site and then the individual components are raised in sequence so as to hang in the same configuration they will have in the completed room or building. After suitably adjusting the position of the individual panels, they are bolted together or otherwise secured to one another to form the desired structure, or one or more of the panels may be secure-. ly fastened to a structure already standing, so as to add on to such a structure.

. Still another object of this present invention is to permit each originally horizontal wall panel, within the compacted package, to gradually swing pivotally from one end until it becomes vertical. Each panel is permitted to swing in a controlled manner in correct sequence until all are in approximate position after which time the invention provides means to adjust the'relative heights of the panels to bring them all into their proper positions to be fastened by any suitable conventional means. Thus the building is quickly erected at the site on arrival, by erecting at least one entire room in a matter of minutes.

Still another object is to provide'a new means to load and unload a garage, or a summer cottage, or like structures onto a truck, trailer, train or other-means of transportation, and to provide means to facilitate erection of the desired structureon' arrival at the site, rapidly, efficiently and easily.

Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages of the invention will become apparent and evident from the description which follows and from the drawings forming a part of said description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a structure after it has been erected by means of the device of the present inventron; 7

FIG. 2 is a view showing one stage in placing the structure of FIG. 1 on a base, or removing it from a base;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective showing the structure of FIG. 1 in compact form, i.e. before it is erected;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view, partially in section, taken along plane 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view of the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view, partly in section, taken on plane 77 of FIG. 6; I I

FIG. 8 is a view taken on plane 8-8 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a view in perspective of one kind of comer brace.

In the description which follows, the term "panels will be used to designate not only a finished, completed wall, but also to designate a wall assembly consisting of only the beams, joists and bracing and any electrical wiring or plumbing which may have been placed in said framing.

Further, it should also be noted that the structure may involve less than an entire enclosure. For example, a package could include only two or three of the walls present in a complete room.

Briefly, in accordance with this invention, panels are prepared comprising walls, ceiling or roof and floor, base or foundation. The foundation panel, if present, is placed and then the remaining panels are placed on top of the base using pads of rubber or masoniteto prevent the panels from marking one another, to make'a shipping load. One or more of the removable-winches of the present. invention is attached to each panel, except thelfloor or base :panel. The assembled group of panels is taken directly to the site and the panels are raised by a hoist to approximatelythe 'desiredconfiguration.

Then the individual winches are utilized to bringjth e panelsv into the correct position for final assembly and fastening into a rigid structure. i

The structure shown in' FIGS. 1 and 2 representsa one room building which could be agarage if a larger front door was provided. The structure includes a floor or support 20, a front wall panel 12, a rear wall panel 18, and twosidewall panels l4, 16. When the assembled package includes a' floor panel this should be placed first, but in many instances the base or foundation will be in place at the site and will not be a part of the package. v

The roof or ceiling 10 carries the means whereby the several other building components are connected toa hoist or lifting means 22 at the building site by cables 24, as shownin FIG. 2.

In the embodiment shown inFlG. 2, a pair of lifting devices 26 are secured to the top surface of panel 1 0 for each vertical panel which is to be erected. The device and its manner of us is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7'.

The panels may be protected from injury incidental to their rubbing against one another during erection by means of bumpers 74 of masonite, rubber or other cushioning means.

Each device 26 comprises a truncated hemisphere portion 30, preferably a metal casting having a base 28 adapted to be secured to roof or ceiling panel 10 by welding, bolting or other known means, and having a flattened top surface 32. The flat top is adapted to support a small winch .40.

Winch 40 comprises a channel shaped frame 42 which includes a base plate 44 resting on flat 32 of casting 30 and vertical arms 46 and 48 provided with bores 50 to receive the winch axle 52. A reversible ratchet 54 and pawl 56 and wind;

ing key 58 at one end of axle 52 complete the winch structure. I Casting 30 'is tapped to receive four different threaded members, as best seen in FIG. 6, namely: a horizontal-lifting eye 60 entering athreadedpassage in hemisphere 30 from one side; a horizontal snubber pin 62' entering another tapped passage in hemisphere 30; a vertical wood lag bolt screw 64 entering hemisphere 30 through its underside and securing it topanel l0; and a threaded stud 66 extending downwardly through a threaded bore in winch base 44 and into the top portion of casting 30 whereby it holds winch 40 in place. Bolts 64% and 66 are each provided with, a central bore adapted to receive a short line or cable 70 one end of which is secured to a wall panel as at 72 and the other end of which is wrapped around axle 52, which may have a bore through which the line may pass in order to hold it in place more firmly..

FIG. 8 illustrates one form of positioning means which may be provided for assisting in .the proper location of vertical panels with reference to horizontal panels. As many balls and sockets 82 as desired may be provided and when, after erection of one unit and removal of the winch and its accessories, hemisphere 30 may serve as the balls, to engage sockets in the vertical panels erected above panel 10.

In FIG. 9, one form of carrier brace is shown wherein depressions may assist in location of the panels. Brace is placed at the intersection of any two vertical panels and nailed to them to brace the comer and cause it to remain at the proper angle. i v 7 It will be understood that a suitable number of openings 94 and 96 are provided for windows and doors to be installed-be-' fore or after erection of the building.

Erection of the building is believed to be apparent from the foregoing. After the package has been prepared at the factory, it is shipped to a building site and lowered onto a prepared foundation or merely onto a level piece of ground. In the prepared package devices 26, winches 40 and lines 70 have been connected to panels. 12, l4, l6 and 18, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Lines 24 from a hoist 22 areconnected preferably to lifting eyes 60 and, if desired,'one or more turns is taken around snubberpins 62. As hoist 22 is raised, the individual walls begin to unfold, in sequence, from the collapsed-package of FIG. 3, until they assume the position shown in FIG. 2, the

walls being protected from injury by bumpers 74. Each wall panel is, of course, hanging at a different height below panel 10. By means of a wrench, key 58 is turned, and axle 52 is therefore rotated, so as to raise (or lower) the panels so that they can be secured to panel and then the unit can be lowered onto floor 20, where balls 80 move into depressions 82 in-corner braces or'elsewhere in floor 20, and then the panels are secured to floor 20.. Token joinings may only be needed at this time and more permanent joinings may be made later.

After erection has been effected, cables 24 are disconnected and then winch 40 is removed by unscrewing bolts 64 and 66, then pins 60 and 62 are also removed and all of these are-stored awaiting the time the building is-to be dismantled. At that time, they are reassembled, the panels are disconnected from the floor and ceiling l0 and reassembled into the package of FIG. 3, by reversing the erection procedure.

That is, buildings already assembled and erected can be disconnected and compacted into one package, ready to be placed atanother location, or shipped while compacted and then stacked individually or with others, or reerected instantly by means of the device of this invention.

The use of the device in this operation is the reverse procedure to that just described. The devices are affixed to the top section of component parts of the building. Then the hoist engages the sling hooks. Then the hoisting is tightened slightly. Then the floor is separated from the walls or partitions.

The cables are then engaged in pairs to the top of all vertical sections. With enough slack in each to allow for folding upwards, one under the other, as will be in the required sequence for reerecting.

The walls are, then separated at the comers and from the roof or ceiling. Ropes are then attached by some simple positive means to the bottom of each section and then draped over the opposite side snubber. When the rope is tightened and pulled over the snubber until the bottom of the section is brought to a horizontal position, then it is secured onto the snubber or winch, if such is used in place of the snubber.

By bringing each section horizontally suspended on one end by the cables and at the other by rope to the snubber all sections may be folded in sequence. When the cables and ropes bring all the sections into line as a package the hoist lowers to the floor component part and all is made into a compact package to be removed to storage or reerected elsewhere.

It will also be apparent that when buildings have been erected by the present means, they may then be placed in multiples in adjoining rows, squares, oblongs or any desired planned design, or by means of the device they may be stacked on top of each other, exactly above each other, or staggered so that a multiple room building will be obtained.

It will be readily appreciated that once the winch 40, lifting eye 60 and snubber pin 62 have been detached from casting 30, the casting itself may serve as the positioning means for the next package of panels. To this end the casting may be detached from the erected panel and moved to a more suitable location where it will be available to receive a depression in the panel to be erected on the existing structure.

It should also be noted that the panels maybe fabricated at the same time that the package is being prepared, i.e. they are not required to be fabricated before they are-brought to the package making location. Furthermore, it is even possible to pour panels at the package making site, e.g. from cement or plaster mixes, with suitable reinforcement, the individual panels being separated by removable dividers which constitute part of the pouring forms in this mode of procedure. Having now described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is not intended that it be limited, except as may be required by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of erecting a building which comprises:

assembling panels comprising the walls required to form a room into a compact flat package withthe panels lying one on another in a preselected sequence;

attaching at least one removable winch to each of said panels;

connecting each of said removable winches to a single lifting means;

raising said panels from said package, in seriatim, in the order in which they were packaged so as to create an erected room;

and thereafter connecting said panels to one another into a rigid structure.

2. The method of claim 1 including in addition the steps of individually winching each of said panels, after it has assumed a vertical posture, to a height suitable for joining each of said panels to a floor;

joining said panels to said floor and to one another; and continuingthe process until the desired number of panels have been erected to define a room. 3. The method of claim 2 in which the winch device attached to said panels includes a first winch portion which is permanently attachedto said panel and a second winch portion which is detachable from said first winch portion;

detaching said second winch portion from said first winch portion after said panels have been connected to said floor; and

thereafter utilizing the first winch portion while it is still attached to said panel, in cooperation with a bracket having at least one recess, said bracket being attached to a second panel, said first winch portion being received in the recess in said bracket to locate said panels correctly relative to each other.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second panel is pro- 'vided with a precut recess proportioned to receive the first winch portion remaining attached to said first panel, after the winch, and second winch portion have been detached from the first winchportion which remains attached to said first panel. 

1. A method of erecting a building which comprises: assembling panels comprising the walls required to form a room into a compact flat package with the panels lying one on another in a preselected sequence; attaching at least one removable winch to each of said panels; connecting each of said removable winches to a single lifting means; raising said panels from said package, in seriatim, in the order in which they were packaged so as to create an erected room; and thereafter connecting said panels to one another into a rigid structure.
 2. The method of claim 1 including in addition the steps of individually winching each of said panels, after it has assumed a vertical posture, to a height suitable for joining each of said panels to a floor; joining said panels to said floor and to one another; and continuing the process until the desired number of panels have been erected to define a room.
 3. The method of claim 2 in which the winch device attached to said panels includes a first winch portion which is permanently attached to said panel and a second winch portion which is detachable from said first winch portion; detaching said second winch portion from said first winch portion after said panels have been connected to said floor; and thereafter utilizing the first winch portion while it is still attached to said panel, in cooperation with a bracket having at least one recess, said bracket being attached to a second panel, said first winch portion being received in the recess in said bracket to locate said panels correctly relative to each other.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second panel is provided with a precut recess proportioned to receive the first winch portion remaining attached to said first panel, after the winch, and second winch portion have been detached from the first winch portion which remains attached to said first panel. 